Business is competitive by nature. If competitors didn’t push our favorite brands to be better, they may not even exist. Our technology options would be limited without Apple’s ingenuity. Shipping options would be limited without UPS or FedEx. And access to our favorite athletic gear would be more limited if no one was pushing the top brands like Nike to innovate. Competition fuels our greatest inventions, but behind every great leader or business is a core network of like-minded people and innovators supporting them. Professional associations connect business leaders to fellow innovators in their industry without competition from local rivals. These organizations offer many benefits and little risk to business leaders looking to grow. If you haven’t yet joined a professional association, these three benefits just might get you to change your mind. Learn and Grow With a Professional Association You’re Not Alone
WHEN’S THE LAST TIME YOUR SECURITY ALARM WENT OFF AND YOU DIDN’T GET A CALL?
Education and Resources
Google is great for a quick answer, but when you need to learn something more nuanced, a simple internet search won’t cut it. Professional associations offer tailored, more in-depth help and resources like industry- specific training and webinars, how-to guides, and coaching. From peer advice and education to scholarly studies and reviews, associations act as a library of information for your industry.
This summer, something strange happened at the Sklar Technology Partners’ office. Something tripped our security alarm. Fortunately, that something was Randy himself and not a dire security breach. He turned the alarm off with ease, but we never got a call from the security company to check in on the situation. We reached out and the alarm company’s records showed that they had not gotten a signal from our office in two years. Our alarm has definitely been tripped more than once over the last two years. The security company looked into the situation and asked, “Has your office upgraded to voice-over IP?” In fact, we had upgraded just over two years ago, right around the same time the alarm company stopped getting our signal. When we upgraded to voice-over IP (VoIP), we cut our regular analog line. We thought that we didn’t need it anymore. What we didn’t know is that our 30-year-old alarm system didn’t have the technical capabilities to connect to the VoIP system. For two years, our alarm system was basically just a loud noise with no actual security measures attached. Thankfully, we never had a real problem during this time. Our alarm company came out to double-check the system, and sure enough, VoIP was the problem. They upgraded our alarm system and connected a cellular signal as a fail-safe, in case the alarm goes off when the internet goes out. We deal in protecting our client’s digital property, but we know how important your physical property is to running a business. Consider this a public service announcement: If you’ve upgraded to VoIP in the last few years, call your alarm company and make sure your security system hasn’t become obsolete.
Networking and Mentorship
Why reinvent the wheel when you can adapt it with a mentor? Associations connect you to leaders who have stood where you are standing and succeeded. You can learn a lot from their failures, wisdom, and guidance. You can also connect with peers in your position and bounce ideas off of them. You won’t have to worry about competitors “stealing” your processes, and you have an honest, go-to support team to help you refine them before presenting them to your team.
Personal Development and Growth
A business is only as good as the leader managing it, and all business leaders have room for improvement. An association can give you the tools to get there. And as you continue to learn, you’ll discover personal and professional areas that can be further refined. This personal development only makes you and your business stronger. Are you still not convinced you should join an association? Think of it this way: Your competitors could be growing through their involvement in an association while you remain stagnant. Push forward and connect with your peers today.
2 • www.sklartechnology.com .................................................................................... Security. Availability. Support.
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